Effectiveness of Pain Neuroscience Education in Women with Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Dysmenorrhea is a highly prevalent gynecological condition that negatively affects menstrual pain experience, daily activities, and overall quality of life. Pain neuroscience education (PNE) is a non-pharmacological intervention designed to reshape maladaptive pain beliefs and promote a more adaptive understanding of pain mechanisms. This study aimed to examine the effects of PNE on pain beliefs, menstrual pain intensity, and the functional impact of dysmenorrhea among women with primary dysmenorrhea. Methods: This randomized controlled trial included 74 women aged ≥18 years diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea. Participants were randomly allocated to either a PNE group (n = 37) or a control group (n = 37). The PNE group received three weekly online educational sessions, whereas the control group continued their routine activities without intervention. Outcomes were assessed before and after the intervention using the Pain Beliefs Questionnaire (PBQ), the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), and the Scale for Assessing the Impact of Dysmenorrhea on Daily Life (SAIDDL). All assessments were administered by evaluators blinded to group allocation. Results: The PNE group demonstrated significantly greater reductions in maladaptive pain beliefs, including both organic and psychological subscales, compared with the control group. Additionally, the PNE group showed substantial decreases in sensory, affective, and total pain scores on the SF-MPQ. Improvements in daily functioning were also evident, as reflected by significantly lower SAIDDL scores. No significant pre–post or between-group changes were identified in the control group. Conclusion: PNE effectively reduced maladaptive pain beliefs, menstrual pain intensity, and the functional impact of dysmenorrhea. These findings suggest that PNE is a low-risk, accessible, and feasible intervention that may serve as a complementary strategy in the management of primary dysmenorrhea, particularly when delivered through digital platforms. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06732778. Registered on September 12, 2024.